Compass

[panomir]

Looking at the clock demo (http://flashpanoramas.com/blog/2007/05/23/add-some-life-to-panoramas/), I've thought it could be nice to add a "compass.swf" too, with the hand synchronized with the pan value.

Have a look at this Flash compass integrated in a QuickTime VR (clic on the last image)
http://www.qtbridge.com/LS/Tips/VRFlash01.html

[fotocubo]

I agree with you Panomir, a VTour without compass is not really a genuine one. I'm sure Denis will give us one soon. I am using one on this VTour but it must to be tamed ;) http://vista360.com/temp/fp/

Regards

[suastegui]

I also agree. We really do need a compass as you easily get lost.
I did this QuickTime version a couple of years ago:
http://www.jocoenen.com/fl/qtvr/lanaken/lanaken.htm

[panomir]

yes it's nice to see the field of view on a foorplan, getting narrow as we zoom in.
we can make this with QuickTime for years thanks to LiveStage Pro, and the script is very close with compass integration.

here is a better example of compass:
http://www.qtbridge.com/ILL/ILL2007/ILL_2007.html
usefull too within a church or mountains panorama

[nmendes]

Yes, Compass would definately be a great feature for the flash panorama viewer. This was one of the things that kept me from choosing the flash format for my panoramas before. But the ubiquity of the flash player weighted more in the end.
I'm seeing FPV as an evolving tool that is aimed to match all the features existing on other formats (or more) with Flash as the medium, and I hope Denis sees it that way too.

[sonicoliver]

if we had access to the objects/vars, we could make a compass plugin

[jaaaab]

It's already possible to do a compas using .fla sources in examples folder.

I made one that works a few days ago, online demo coming soon ;)

++

[phberlin]

Oh, I'd also love to see a compass feature. Looking forward to see jaaaabs solution :-)

Regards, phberlin

[nmendes]

jaaaab: When can we have a source file it that example. That would help a lot.

[jaaaab]

Actualy the demo of compas i posted in the forum contains a little bug.

I will post source + tutorial of the compas asa i will fix it.

Hope next week!

Cheers.

[cheathamlane]

Using the "Panorama with ExternalInterface controller" as an example (see source FPP files and the documentation), you can pretty easily rotate one hotspot from another hotspot (ha, or the same hotspot if you want).

I tested using one SWF to rotate another spot (PNG file) at:
http://www.cheathamlane.net/tests/flash/

--
* externalTest.fla:
- I added one line of code.
ExternalInterface.call("window.document['"+movieName+"']."+ExternalInterfaceID+"PanoSet", "myHotspot.rotation", pan);
//where "myHotspot.rotation" is "HotspotID.ParameterToChange"
//and "pan" is the value from the previous line of script

- I changed the frame rate to 24 (12 seemed a little jerky).

* XML:
- Add ExternalInterfaceID="someID" to <global ExternalInterfaceID="someID" />
...making sure it matches the var "ExternalInterfaceID" in the FLA

- Add your <spot/> for the "externalTest.swf"

--
You can download the FLA and XML from:
http://cheathamlane.net/permanent/FPP/20070901_externalTest-CL.zip

Simple and clean -- not as fancy as, say, having a SWF compass which shows the field of view and so on -- but works. :-)

HTH

[suastegui]

Thank you cheathamlane for sharing your knowledge, works perfectly well.
J.

[wsimpson]

All,
Thanks to all that have interest and that contributed to the compass feature. This is a very popular feature for my business and I am anxious to see this feature developed. I hope that Denis will consider a plugin to simplify the gui needs. I have continued with cheathamlane's externalTest example of how to get the pan info to the hotspot. (Thanks Patrick).

Here is my first try. I would like feedback on how this is working on different browsers etc.

http://bethere360.com/compasstest/TestFolder/examples/externalTest-CL.html

Walt

[cheathamlane]

Hey Walt:

Works fine here (Safari/Mac)!

I am getting the "script is running slowly" error again, though... This is tied in to the memory issues (I think) which I have posted about here: http://flashpanoramas.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352 and which Gary mentions here: http://flashpanoramas.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381

[izoneguy]

All,
Thanks to all that have interest and that contributed to the compass feature. This is a very popular feature for my business and I am anxious to see this feature developed. I hope that Denis will consider a plugin to simplify the gui needs. I have continued with cheathamlane's externalTest example of how to get the pan info to the hotspot. (Thanks Patrick).

Here is my first try. I would like feedback on how this is working on different browsers etc.

http://bethere360.com/compasstest/TestFolder/examples/externalTest-CL.html

Walt

Hello, Nice work!
I looked on your home page.
Why would you se FP over what looks like
EasyPano Tour Weaver?
I love FP but find the handcoding a bit much...
I have been a photographer and video producer
for 25 years and had so many requests for
Virtual Tours that I finally got around to learning
how to do it.
I like what FP can do, but I need more
of a GUI like Tour Weaver...
What are the pros and cons??
Thanks

[jaaaab]

Hi izoneguy,

you should have a look at this post:

http://www.flashpanoramas.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341

++

[wsimpson]

Hello, Nice work!
I looked on your home page.
Why would you se FP over what looks like
EasyPano Tour Weaver?
I love FP but find the handcoding a bit much...
I have been a photographer and video producer
for 25 years and had so many requests for
Virtual Tours that I finally got around to learning
how to do it.
I like what FP can do, but I need more
of a GUI like Tour Weaver...
What are the pros and cons??
Thanks

izoneguy,

Thanks for the feedback. I like FPP for the quality first and foremost. TourWeaver is what I use on a regular basis but the Flash player is not as good as FPP. I am trying to build a template for my next generation product that will use FPP. I want to be able to cut my production time from 2 hours per tour to 1 hour. Hopefully I can get this done with out too much more development. FPP does have a lot of coding. Keeps me on top of the technology however and I need to do that. I think Denis has a good thing going but the documentation could be more robust. Thank goodness for the forum or I would have given up long ago!!!

Walt